Extreme weather forces JMU, UVA, Tech to change football schedules

James Madison University was scheduled to open its home football season Saturday. Now, the Dukes will do that a couple of days earlier.

JMU football's home opener has been rescheduled from Saturday to Thursday.

Holly Marcus/Special to The News Leader

JMU officials announced that the game against Robert Morris will be played Thursday at 7 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg. The move was due to weather concerns related to Hurricane Florence, which is expected to hit the East Coast by this weekend.

All tickets to the Robert Morris football game will be valid for the new date and time.

Ticket purchasers who do not use their tickets for the game will receive a credit on their account equal to the value of the tickets that can be used towards a future home football game (including playoffs) or 2019 football season tickets.

Football parking will be available starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday. Specific information on lot access will be shared with season-ticket holders as soon as possible.

The following events that were scheduled to coincide with Saturday's game day have been canceled or rescheduled:

— Day with the Dukes with Special Olympics Virginia

— Duke Club Pregame Hospitality Tent

— Duke Club Fall Kickoff (rescheduled from Sept. 14 to Oct. 5)

— Football letter-winner events (rescheduled for Nov. 10).

Virginia Tech Hokies fan eats his popcorn in the rain during a game against the William & Mary Tribe at Lane Stadium.

Lee Luther Jr., USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech's game against East Carolina at Lane Stadium, scheduled for Saturday at 12:20 p.m., has been canceled.

On Monday, the school's athletic director, Whit Babcock, tweeted, "We may change this plan, but as of now, we will have an update re: game on Wednesday. Most likely nothing today or tomorrow. #staytuned. Thank you."

Then, on Tuesday, the school said the opponent was not going to travel for the game.

BREAKING 🚨

ECU informs Tech it will not travel to Blacksburg for Saturday’s game.

A post on the school's athletics website said that "Virginia Tech Athletics confirmed Tuesday that East Carolina University has indicated to Tech Athletics officials that it will not travel to Blacksburg for Saturday's scheduled football game due to the impending impact of Hurricane Florence."

According to the post, Tech officials wanted to wait until Wednesday before making a decision on the game. They hoped that the storm's track might change and the game could be played Saturday, but ECU's decision changed that plan.

After ECU's decision, Tech's football tweeted a reminder that it traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2016 during a hurricane and beat the Tar Heels 34-3. Later, the tweet was deleted and a Virginia Tech official apologized.

Details for those with tickets to the game Saturday will be made available once officials determine when, or if, the game will be rescheduled.

Virginia was supposed to host Ohio University Saturday, but on Tuesday the school's athletics department announced the game would now be played in Nashville, Tennessee, at Vanderbilt University.

"The venue change was made due to the threat of severe weather in the Charlottesville area associated with Hurricane Florence and to provide emergency personnel with the ability to focus on the needs of the region's citizens throughout the weekend," according to a school press release.

Kickoff for the game will be at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. in Nashville). Television broadcast plans for the game are still being developed by the ACC and ESPN

"Our top priority is the safety of everyone involved and I appreciate the understanding of our fans," said Virginia athletics director Carla Williams."We're extremely grateful to Vanderbilt University and vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletics director David Williams for graciously supporting our efforts. We look forward to returning to Scott Stadium for the Louisville game on Sept. 22."

Refund information for tickets will be posted online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets and sent by email to fans who purchased tickets to the game through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Virginia Athletics will not offer refunds for tickets purchased through secondary sources.